Plier-like device for closing of packing wrappers

ABSTRACT

A pliers device for closing a U-shaped clip having a pair of opposed arms inter-connected by a web about a gathered portion of a packaging envelope comprising holding means for holding a Ushaped clip, means for moving said clip while held by said holding means toward a die, a die facing the approaching arms of said U-shaped clip and means for impinging said arms against said die.

United States Patent [1 1 Niedecker Oct. 28, 197 5 [54] PLXER -LIKE DEVICE FOR CLOSING 0F 2,968,042 1/1961 Yankee 29/212 D P CK G WRAPPERS 3,224,083 12/1965 Tipper 29/243.57 3,380,226 4/1968 Tracy 29/243.56 Inventor: Herbert Niedecker, Am Ellerhang 6, 3,455,010 7/1969 Busler 29/24357 6243 Falkenstein, Taunus, Germany [22] Filed: Jan. 2, 1974 Primary Examiner-C. W. Lanham Assistant Examiner-E. M. Combs [21] Appl' 430274 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Burgess, Dinklage &

Sprung [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Jan. 10, 1973 Germany 2300993 Apr. 11, 1973 Germany 2318125 [57] ABSTRACT A pliers device for closing a U-shaped clip having a U-S- Cli pair of opposed arms inte gco nnected a web about l (12m 3211) 0 B23P 11/00 a gathered portion of a packaging envelope compris- [58] new of 29/203 203 203 HC, ing holding means for holding a U-shaped clip, means 29/203 HT, 212 243-56, 243-57; 53/138 for moving said clip while held by said holding means A; 72/409, 410; 227/19 toward a die, a die facing the approaching arms of said U-shaped clip and means for impinging said arms [56] References Cited against said die.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1896 Allshouse 29/212 D 7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures US. Patent Oct. 28, 1975 Sheet 1 of4 3,914,980

US. Patent Oct. 28, 1975 Sheet20f4 3,914,980

Sheet 3 of4 3,914,980

US. Patent 0a. 28, 1975 US. Patent 0ct.28,1975 Sheet4of4 3,914,980

PLIER-LIKE DEVICE FOR CLOSING F PACKING WRAPPERS.

BACKGROUND I OF. THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to an apparatus for closing a U-shaped clip about a gathered portion of a packaging envelope. More particularly, this invention relates to a pliers device for closing packaging envelopes by forcing a U-shaped closure clip about a gathered portion of a wrapping or packaging material, for example, the mouth of a bag to close the bag. In particular this invention is directed to such a pliers device utilizing a rotary punch plate which is pivotable about a pivot which punch plate is provided with a recess having a boundary which holds a U-shaped closure clip which punch plate is movable into contact with a generally arcuate die whereby a U-shaped closure means held in the recess is caused to deform about material held in facing relationship to the die member.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art Such pliers devices in which compression of the arms of the pliers causes the clip to be fed by a punch, to be wrapped around the gather of the packaging envelope and to be closed around the gather of the packaging envelope on a die, have already been proposed. In one such pliers device, the clip is moved gradually towards a closure position, by closing the arms of the pliers of plurality of, namely at least three, times. It is then closed. This has the disadvantage that it is impossible to gather and close the gather of the bag by a single closure of the pliers.

A closing device has also been proposed in which the gathering and the closure is performed by a single closure of the pliers. However in this device it is necessary, before each closure operation, to tension a spring which is released at each closure of the pliers and drives the punch with the clip forwards in order to form the gather of the packaging envelope. The clip is then closed on the die by the closure of the pliers. This has the disadvantage that a plurality of manipulations are necessary in order to' use the closing pliers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided a pliers device for closing a U-shaped clip wherein the arms of the pliers do not have to be moved a plurality of times before the clip member is secured about the gather of packaging material. In the pliers device of the present invention, securement of the U-shaped clip is provided by a single'movement of the arms. Moreover, in the pliers device of the present invention, it is not required that a spring be tensioned before each closure operation which spring is released at each closure of the pliers and drives the punch with the clip forward whereby to form the gather of the packaging envelope. Hence, the pliers device of the present invention does not require a plurality of manipulations before the U- shaped closuredevice is wrapped about the gathered portion of the wrapping or packaging material.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided. a pliers device for closing a U-shaped clip having a pair'of opposed arms interconnected by a web about a gathered portion of a packaging envelope comprising holding means for holding a U-shaped clip, means for moving said clip while held by said holding means toward a die, a die facing the approaching arms of said U-shaped clip and means for impinging said arms against said die. I

In the present invention there is preferably provided a pair of pivotally interconnected arm members which pivot about a pivot. There is. provided a trough-shaped recess which holds the U-shaped clip member, which trough-shaped recess has a boundary which engages the web of the clip. The trough-shaped recess is provided in a punch plate which is rotatable about a punch such that the U-shaped clip disposed remote from the die is in one complete movement of the arm members moved so that the U-shaped clip engages the die, which is generally arcuate. Thus the invention can be considered as one wherein arm members of the pliers device are linkagely connected to the punch plate so as to operate or rotate the punch plate whereby the troughshaped recess carries the clip to and in abutment with the die. By such motion, the U-shaped member is caused to wrap about the gathered material in the housing portion facing the die and the arm members of the U-shaped clip are brought into engagement with the gathered material within the: pliers device.

One feature of the present invention resides in the manner by which the two arms are pivotally interconnected and are movable to cause a punch plate which itself is pivotally mounted to move in a circle about a pivot point. Movement of the punch plate about a pivot point causes a clip inserted therein to move in a generally circular arcuate path on to a die where the clip is wrapped and closed about the gathered portion of the packaging envelope. w

The feeding of the closure clip along a circular arcuate clip path has the advantage that the clip feed, as for example through a magazine, can be arranged comparatively close to the die without obstruction of the gathering means for the packaging envelope by the clip guide means. Consequently, a structurally simple construction of the closing tools and a compact construction of the closing part of the closing pliers is provided so that the pliers can be closed with on'ehand, the clip being wrapped and closed around the gather with a single closure of the pliers. It will be noted that in the closure device of the present invention, the clips are not deformed about the material by use of pliers jaws, but rather by use of a punch member which carries the clip member to the die. In the present device, the closure clip is conveniently driven on to the die by a punch, which is constructed as a punch plate, by closing the arms of the pliers. The drive of the punch plate during the closure of the pliers arms is effected through a knee lever or control cam. The punch plate can also contain a clip housing which is constructed such that it embraces either wholly or partially the web and the two arms of the clip.

By the rotary mounting of the punch plate, the punch is guided in a relaible manner and with minimum wear. Since the punch plate can also contain the housing for the clip, guidance of the clip through the guide grooves can be omitted, which contributes additionally to structural simplification. The drive of the punch plate through knee levers or control cams makes possible a particularly favorable transmission, whereby the desired high step-up ratio for clip transport and gathering travel is achieved with slight counter pressure, and the desired. low step-up ratio is achieved for the high counter pressure which exists during the closure. The

recess provided in the punch plate for the clip also embraces, during the closure of the clip, the die which is correspondingly adapted in its external shape. Therefore, the clip can be maintained in the housing until the completion of the closure operation, likewise rendering guide grooves unnecessary. Tilting of the clip in the die is also obviated by this means.

In one embodiment of the present device, it is formed with a funnel-shaped aperture, preferably in the longitudinal axis of the pliers device, for the introduction of the gathered portion of the packaging envelope which is to be closed into the housing space in the circular clip guide path. This has the advantage that the end of the bag can be introduced directly into the housing space,

' in which it is maintained by the convergent size of the funnel-shaped aperture. Where the funnel-shaped aperture is fitted in the longitudinal axis of the pliers device, the pliers can be passed abruptly round the end of the bag, in a manner corresponging to natural manipulation, in order to close the bag.

The U-shaped closure clips for use in the present device preferably have arms of arcuate construction which correspond approximately to the two sides of the arcuate clip guide path. A preferred clip is disclosed in my co-pending German application Ser. No. 2300980 filed concurrently herewith. The inner arm of the clip is shorter than the outer one, so that the ends of both arms strike the die simultaneously. The ends of both arms are bent slightly inwards so that it is ensured that BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order to enable the invention to be more readily understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate diagrammatically and by way of example some embodiments thereof in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a closure pliers in an open position but without a clip magazine;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the pliers shown in FIG. 1 in a closed position;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section through the closure pliers shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 but with a clip magazine present;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the closure tools of a closure pliers, in an open position and with a gathering plate removed;

FIG. 5 is a side view showing the pliers of FIG. 4 in a closed position; and

FIG. 6 is a side view showing a closure pliers with a funnel-shaped aperture to receive the end of a bag.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT The closure pliers shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 comprises pliers arms 1 and 2 which are pivotally connected at 3 and between which is a compression spring 4. The arm 1 is the load arm and comprises a housing element 5 for the individual components of the closure device, including a punch plate 6, which is mounted rotatably about an axis 7. The punch plate 6 contains a troughshaped recess 8 for a clip 9, the boundary 10 of the recess 8 embracing the web and the arms of a clip 9 totally or partially. The clip 9 is introduced through an entry aperture 11 in the housing 5 into the recess 8 of the punch plate 6. The bunched gather 12 of a packaging envelope is introduced between the housing element 5 and a movable gathering arm 13 into a housing space 14. The gathering arm 13 is mounted rotatably on a bolt 15 and is maintained in a closed position by a return spring 16. A nose 17 of the housing element 5 serves as an additional guide element for the gather 12.

Upon closing the pliers, the clip 9 is guided by the punch plate 6 along a circular arcuate closure path as indicated by the arrow 18 towards a die 19. Along the closure path the gather 12 is further gathered together in the housing space 14 in front of and facing the clip 9. The arms of the clip 9 are guided past one another in parallel grooves (FIG. 3) on the die 19. The boundmy 10 of the trough-shaped recess 8 for the clip 9 then embraces the die 19. In order to permit this, the external surfaces 20 and 21 of the die 19 are likewise of circular arcuate construction.

The punch plate 6 is driven through a knee lever having one lever arm 22 connected by a bolt 24 to the punch plate 6 and pivotally connected at 25 to the other lever arm 23 which is an extension of the arm 2 of the closure pliers.

It will be seen from FIG. 3 that the gathering arm 13 is formed with an indentation 26 which serves-as a support for the outer arm of the clip 9 during closure. The clips 9 are accommodated in a magazine 27 and are urged through an entry aperture 11 into the recess 8 by a stirrup spring 28. l

FIGS. 4 and 5 show another drive system for a punch plate 6. The punch plate 6 is driven by means of a drive bolt 30 engaging in a control cam 29 and movable by the arm 2. The remaining parts of the pliers shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 are similar to those of the pliers shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and bear the same reference numerals.

Referring now to FIG. 6, there is shown an embodiment of the pliers in which the bunched end of a packaging envelope is introduced through a funnel-shaped aperture 35 into a housing space 14, the funnel-shaped aperture 35 converging into a constriction. This ensures that the gathered end of the bag is maintained in the housing space 14 in such a way that when the pliers is closed the boundary 10 of a recess 8 embraces the gather with the clip and does not damage it. A movable gatherer 36, which is movable round the pivot point of the punch plate 6 together with the punch plate, additionally gathers the end of the bag .when the clip is guided on to the die, in order that the two arms of the clip can embrace the gather of the bag without obstruction. A spacer 37 ensures that the end of the bag does not rest upon the die, so that the ends of the clip when closed embrace the gather of the bag and do not damage it. Again the remaining parts of the pliers shown in FIG. 6 are similar to those of the pliers shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and bear the same reference numerals.

In each of the embodiments described above, the clip 9 is adapted to the circular arcuate clip guide path 18, in that both arms 31 and 32 (FIG. 4') of the clip extend arcuately in the same direction. The clip arm 32 is shorter than the arm 31 so that the arms strike the die 19 simultaneously. The ends 33 of the arms are bent inwards in order to facilitate the closure operation, while the bridge 34 is simicircular, whereby the packaging gather is best embraced.

What is claimed is:

1. A pliers device for closing a U-shaped clip having a pair of opposed arms interconnected by a web about a gathered portion of a packaging envelope comprising a pair of pivotably interconnected arm members which pivot about a pivot, a punch plate linkagely connected to one of said arm members, said plate having a troughshaped recess engaging and supporting the arms and the web of said clip, a die carried by that one of said arms other than that connected to said punch plate, said die facing said trough-shaped recess and the approaching arms of said clip carried thereby, the arms of said clip initially being spaced from said die so as to provide an access channel into which there can be inserted an article to be encircled by the closing clip, pivoting of said arm members toward one another causing said punch plate to pivot with said trough-shaped recess and to advance a clip in a continuous, circularly arcuate motion toward and then against said die to effect bending of the advancing clip arms around the inserted article by said die.

2. A pliers according to claim 1 wherein said punch plate contains interconnected grooves which are interconnected at a shoulder, said arm members are interconnected pivotably at a pivot with a knee lever rideable in said grooves to rotate said punch plate in response to relative movement of one of said arm members in respect of the pivot 3. A pliers according to claim 1 wherein said arm members are pivotably interconnected at a pivot with a linkage carrying a riding member rideable in a groove in said punch plate whereby movement of an arm member pivots said linkage which urges said riding member against a surface of said groove and effects rotation of said punch plate.

4. A pliers according to claim 1 wherein said recess is moveable to embrace said die.

5. A pliers device according to claim 1 comprising movable means for gathering a portion of material and maintaining the same in facing position to said die, said gathering means being pivotally mounted on said one arm member and pivoting together with said punch plate.

6. A pliers device according to claim 5 having a funnel-shaped aperture in general alignment with the region facing said die which region comprises a housing space disposed between a generally circular arcuate clip guide path through which said clip passes.

7. A pliers device according to claim 5 wherein said means for gathering a portion of material is mounted on said device and urged toward the region facing said die by a spring means, said arm members are co-joined by a compression spring and the external surfaces of said die are of generally arcuate construction to accommodate a generally U-shaped clip member having arcuate side walls. 

1. A pliers device for closing a U-shaped clip having a pair of opposed arms interconnected by a web about a gathered portion of a packaging envelope comprising a pair of pivotably interconnected arm members which pivot about a pivot, a punch plate linkagely connected to one of said arm members, said plate having a trough-shaped recess engaging and supporting the arms and the web of said clip, a die carried by that one of said arms other than that connected to said punch plate, said die facing said trough-shaped recess and the approaching arms of said clip carried thereby, the arms of said clip initially being spaced from said die so as to provide an access channel into which there can be inserted an article to be encircled by the closing clip, pivoting of said arm members toward one another causing said punch plate to pivot with said trough-shaped recess and to advance a clip in a continuous, circularly arcuate motion toward and then against said die to effect bending of the advancing clip arms around the inserted article by said die.
 2. A pliers according to claim 1 wherein said punch plate contains interconnected grooves which are interconnected at a shoulder, said arm members are interconnected pivotably at a pivot with a knee lever rideable in said grooves to rotate said punch plate in response to relative movement of one of said arm members in respect of the pivot.
 3. A pliers according to claim 1 wherein said arm members are pivotably interconnected at a pivot with a linkage carrying a ridinG member rideable in a groove in said punch plate whereby movement of an arm member pivots said linkage which urges said riding member against a surface of said groove and effects rotation of said punch plate.
 4. A pliers according to claim 1 wherein said recess is moveable to embrace said die.
 5. A pliers device according to claim 1 comprising movable means for gathering a portion of material and maintaining the same in facing position to said die, said gathering means being pivotally mounted on said one arm member and pivoting together with said punch plate.
 6. A pliers device according to claim 5 having a funnel-shaped aperture in general alignment with the region facing said die which region comprises a housing space disposed between a generally circular arcuate clip guide path through which said clip passes.
 7. A pliers device according to claim 5 wherein said means for gathering a portion of material is mounted on said device and urged toward the region facing said die by a spring means, said arm members are co-joined by a compression spring and the external surfaces of said die are of generally arcuate construction to accommodate a generally U-shaped clip member having arcuate side walls. 